Also called head gaskets
This page is a draft. It has not been approved yet, so read it with care.
The seal between the engine block and the cylinder head, which keeps combustion, coolant and oil apart.
History: facts, each with its source
Wikipedia says a head gasket seals the engine block to the cylinder head, keeping the combustion gases in the cylinders and the coolant and oil from leaking in. Most modern engines use multi-layer steel gaskets.1
Every generation on the site whose dossier names it
Reputation: what owners and the press report. Tap one to see what to check.
What to check: Look for milky oil, white smoke from the exhaust, and an engine that runs hot.
Wikipedia says coolant leaking into the oil can turn it like mayonnaise or a milkshake, though that alone does not prove the gasket failed. White smoke suggests coolant is getting into the cylinders, and a leak can make the engine run badly or overheat.
Sources 1
Shifterati